Gorikayi (Guvar) Avalakki/Poha

For a long time Cluster beans or Gorikayi/Guvar was one vegetable that I wouldn’t willingly pick up at the grocery store unless someone forced me to 🙂 It was not that I had had a bad experience with it – on the other hand I had tasted several tasty variants of cluster beans curry. Unfortunately I could never replicate the taste successfully 😛 I have not given up on creating a perfect guvar curry – but for now I definitely have a hands down favorite poha recipe with Guvar 🙂

Poha or flattened rice is really versatile – once it is soaked for a few minutes it gets cooked really fast. Plus it goes well with a ton of flavors. Traditionally, lots of savory and sweet dishes are prepared with Poha. On my site I already have a very different Poha Chaat recipe 🙂 Most often poha is prepared along with potatoes, onions or tomatoes – but there a lot of variations that you can do with a basic recipe. Including more vegetables in one’s diet is the easiest way to move towards a healthier lifestyle. Different veggies have different flavors and textures – by experimenting you can create your own recipes with your favorite veggies! Yes these recipes will be different from the traditional taste, but no less tasty – try it out for yourself 🙂

In this recipe, the finely chopped guvar adds a great chewiness and gives dimension to the simple poha. It transforms the Poha from a simple breakfast into a nutritious wholesome meal. The peanuts are a absolute must 😛 They add a wonderful crunch. The chillies, lime and grated coconut add in the familiar flavors of hot, home-cooked delicious Poha.

Ingredients

1 cup poha/flattened rice (thick variety)

300 grams guvar

1 large tomato

2 tsp oil

1 tbsp groundnuts

1 tsp channa dal

1 tsp urad dal

2 green chillies

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/8 tsp turmeric powder

Juice from 1/2 lemon

Salt to taste

Chopped cilantro to garnish

1 tbsp grated coconut (optional)

Preparation Time: 10 min

Cooking Time: 10 min

Servings: 3-4

Method

Take the poha in a large bowl. Wash it well with cold water and let the water drain. Then let the poha rest while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Chop the guvar finely – this helps it mix well with the poha.Chop the tomatoes and green chillies also finely.

In a large saucepan, heat 1 tsp oil. Then add the groundnuts. Sauté on medium heat for a few seconds, then add the Chana dal. Once the Chana dal changes color slightly, add the urad dal. Sauté well till the dals become lightly brown and the peanuts are crunchy. Take this out onto a plate.

In the same pan, add 1 tsp oil again. Once it hot, add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Add the chopped green chillies. Sauté well till the mustard seeds crackle.

Add in the chopped guvar, tomatoes and turmeric. Sprinkle some salt and water and let the guvar cook. Don’t over cook the veggies – a slight crunch will be good with the poha. Add as much water as required only.

Once the veggies are done, add in the soaked poha. Sprinkle some salt and water lightly.